Automatic combination lock



'April 21, 1931. TN 1,801,299

AUTOMATIC COMBINATION LOCK Original Filed Nov. 17, 1927 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 U ITE STATES Y PATENT OFFICE FRED B. As'nron, or s'r. LOUIS; MISSOURI AUTOMATIC COMBINATION LOCK Application filed Novcmber 17, 1927, Serial N 0. 233,936. Renewed September 1 0, 193Q.

invention mainly relates to an improved means by which a doorto which it is attached is locked when the door is closed bythe mechanism in and attached to said loek, whether or" not, the operator wills it, andwithout the operator throwing off the' combination by the revolution of the tumblfers, or otherwise soi that persons W110 have not the combination cannot obtain access to the rec eptacle closed with said lock.

Another object attained is a reduction in cost of'construction, because of the possibility ofattachment to a sheet metal door as well as one that has been cast. 5 l attain these objects by the mechanism l let rated in h e e pa yins dra in w a [Figi 1 is a rear view of a post office box ag nt which the lock is used in this illustrati'on, showing the mechanism set on the ombinat na i re y r t bel t be retracted Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing thebolgt retracted, in which operation he? tumblers were. rot e o S.eme xte 5 that when the bolt resumes its normal posiiee, re u ning al to. their n rm positions levera d, d g h c d pla h merst e no e f s i d g w n t tan 1 posite the gates in the tumblers, thus preventfigihQ'TQ T tQ'Qi l e th ol the e d m without again setting thecombination; Fig.

ee jtienal Vi w n. i 3 o g, 1

how ng tum lerar ange t g- 4,

-is j aseetional view on line 4 4s of Figure 1,

35 slifdwing the glass holdingdevice; Fig. 5 is a view in perspective" (enlarged) showing the construction ofthe dog and lever hereinafter described; Fig, 6 is an enlarged perspective of theindfic-ator and indicator shaft showing its construction; Fig. 7' is a view showing'a bushing through which the indicator shaft extends, a partially completed tumbler, and nonrotatable washer mounted on said bushing, which prevents one disk tumbler from rotating byfriction with the other, ex-

cept when pins inserted in each tumbler come in contact with each other.

"Similar numbers refer to the same parts hreugheut thzee v e ews. i0 The indicator dial2 ('Fig. 3) is not integral with door 1, but is a separate piece of sheet metal on which numbers or other marks are stamped for setting the combination, This dial, has two lugs 3 (one on each side) formed so that they project through slots tween the disk tumblers and 8. Disk turnbler 7 is rotatably mounted on bushing Disk tumbler 8 has a hexagonal openingin the center, in which a hexagonal washer-'9 loosely fits to facilitate the changing of cornbinations, This hexagonal washer 9 also has a hexagonal opening in its-center, for mounting on indicator shaft 10. which is hexagonal in shape. This hexagonal washerl) operates at the inside end of bushing 5 Also n on en are nd b shin 5 is a coiled spring 11 which forces tumbler T against washer 6 and this washer against u ble -se latt n ngag e with hexagonal washer 9 so that this turnbler 8 may be actuated by rotation of the indicator shaft l0,and which in turn will actuate tumbler 7 through contact of pins 12 in both tumblers.

Another function of thiscoiled springll is to keep the entire assembly tight against the cotter pin 13 through the end of indi cator shaft 10 to prevent easy rotation by accident, and to prevent the return of the tumblers to the opening point by dog 16 as it resumes its normal position after displacing the tumblers, and as it drags against the edge ofthe tumblers, V

Mounted on the inner end of knob l iis a lever 15. This lever 15 has an opening 15@ below where knob 14- enters it, for the reception of an extension 19 a from bolt 19, so that when the knob 14 is turned the outer end of lever 15 moves upward, and bolt 19 is retracted to permit the opening'of the door.

Mounted on the outer endof lever 15 by 16 entering the gates in the tumblers and then pushing them aroundto the point as indicated in Fig. 2.

Housed in the formed end of lever 15, around pivot pin 18 is a combination compression and torsion spring 17, the: function of which is to keep the dog 16 flat against the inner side of lever 15, and to return the dog 16 to its normal position when lever 15 is also returned to normal position after pressure onknob 14 is removed. The return of these parts as well as bolt 19 is effected by coiled compression spring21' around the rear end of bolt 19.

I In the return of dog16 to normal position,

the lower-end slides over lug 20-a, formed from bracket 20, and becomes locked behind this 'lu g, so that bolt 19 cannot be retracted until combination is again set for opening.

Bracket 20, which is attached by rivet orv otherwise to door plate 1 is made ofsheet, metalformed at each end 20-?) and 20-0 andslotted in said formed portions for the slidable operationrof bolt 19. It also has a formed lug 20abehind which the lower end of dog 16 locks when in normal position, as sh'own' above,

p Also fastened to door plate 1, at the lower end, is a smallbracket 25 formed from sheet metal to receive glass 24 and spring 22, which is held in place by rivet 23, asshown by Fig. 4.

10 and indicator 10a, which is constructed ofa hexagonal'shaped rod rounded and slot ted at one end to receive stamped sheet metal ind1cator,10-', a, both being held together by.

rivet 10-b; I V. 1

In the construction of this look it may be necessary for me to depart to some extent from the descriptions and illustrations herein, hence I desire that it be understood that I may not confine myself'strictlythereto, although remaining within the scope and spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as newand ters Patent is:

1'. In an automatic combination lock,othe

1 combinationv with a bolt, a knob, tumblers,-

indicator and indicator shaft, of a dial having' two formed lugs adapted to project through slotsina door and lock cover for holding them firmly in place, substantially as specified f i 2. In an, automatic combination lock, the

V combination with a bolt,knob, tumblers, in-

dicatorand indicator shaft, and a dial, of a bushing fastened atone end'in the dial and door, projecting inward from the door and "wish to protect by Let-,

having mounted thereon for rotation the tumblers, and having a portion of one side flat for mounting; a nonrotatable washer, substantially as specified.

3. In an automatic combination lock, the combination with a bolt, a knob, tumblers, indicator and indicator shaft, and a dial, of a bushing on: which; tumblers rotate, a washer of hexagonal shape inside and outside mounted on a hexagonal shaped indicator shaft adapted for the actuation of a tumbler substantially as specified.

4. In an automatic combination lock, the combination with a bolt, a knob, tumblers, indicator and indicator shaft, a dial, and a bushing upon which tumblers rotate, of a coiled compression spring mounted on said bushing adapted to holding tumblers and, washers mounted on the bushingin proper contact and to the prevention of accidental rotation of tumblers when not desired, sub- 1 dicator shaft hexagonal'in shape, with one end rounded and slotted and adapted to receive an indicator stamped from sheet metal, substantially as specified 6. In an automatic combination lock, the

- combination with a bolt, a knob, tumblers,

indicator and indicator shaft, a dial, washers and a lever actuated at one end by aknob and carrying a dog on its other end, of a dog. as indicated,pivotally mounted at one end o 7 v of the lever, with its upper endadapted to V Flg. 6 illustrates in detail indicator shaft enter gates in the tumblers and its other end adapted for sliding'over and behind a'lug' ghdilch locks'it in place, substantially as speci e o .o 7. In an automatic combination lock, the combination with a bolt, a knob, tumblers, indicator and indicator shaft, a dial,washers, a lever mounted-on the knob at one endand the other end carrying a dog adapted to the rotation of tumblers, of a. combination;

compression and torsion'spring assembled -with the dog and adapted for forcing it to slide'over andbehind a lug for locking and holding it in normal position, substantially as specified. v o a 7 8. In an automatic combination lock, the combination with a bolt, a knob, tumblers, indicatorand indicator shaft, a dial, washers, a lever mounted'on theknob carrying on its other end a dog for rotation of tumblers, of a bolt made from sheet metalwith a pro-1 jection adapted for engagement with a lever for actuation, and slidably. mounted on brackets, substantiallyas specified, v 1

9. In an automatic combination lock, the, combination with abolt, a knob,tumblers, indicator and indicator shaft, a dial, wash-. ers, a lever, and a dog,'ofla bracket adapted for fastening to the door to which the lock is attached, having its two ends formed and slotted for the slidable mounting of a flat bolt, and having a formed lug for looking the dog to prevent operation of the bolt again without setting the combination, substam tially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed 1n signature.

y FRED B. ASHTON. 

